Grazing is focus of annual field day

July 26, 2013

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Grazing and cost-effective ways to feed cattle during winter will take center stage when the Indiana Integrated Resource Management Program hosts its annual field day Aug. 21.

The field day will be at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center, known as SIPAC, 11371 E. Purdue Farm Road, Dubois. The free program is from 2-5 p.m. A catered dinner will follow the educational program for $11.50 per person.

The IRM program focuses on the resources producers already have and helping to make those resources financially viable, said Mark Hilton, clinical professor and large-animal veterinarian in Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The 2013 field day will teach producers strategies to cut feed costs by extending grazing time during the year.

"We really wanted to talk about this after the severe drought we had last year, because we never know when that's going to happen again," Hilton said. "Having a good grazing management plan is always a good idea."

SIPAC manager and Purdue grazing expert Jason Tower will lead a field tour and discuss grazing topics, including how he dealt with the 2012 drought. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from other producers about the successful grazing practices on their farms. The program is not limited to beef cattle grazing, and producers with all species of grazing livestock are encouraged to attend.

Hilton will give a short talk about economical ways to feed beef cattle during the winter using alternative feedstuffs, including byproduct feeds and limit feeding hay. He will focus on the correlation between the cost of feeding cattle and profit for producers.

"Every person there can go home the next day and do something on their farm that's going to help their farm," said Hilton. "Everyone will have the opportunity to take something home that's going to change things for them."

Registration is due by Aug. 9. To register, call the Purdue Large Animal Hospital at 765-494-8548. The program is free to everyone. Those who want to stay for the meal can pay the $11.50 fee by credit card when calling to register. For more information, visit https://ag.purdue.edu/arp/pac/Pages/sipac-home.aspx and scroll down to the Workshops section to find the IRM field day brochure.